How to write an alternate ending to a short story?

Well, writing an alternate ending short story can be really fun. Begin by getting a clear picture of the existing story in your head. Decide what you don't like about the original ending or what you think could have been more interesting. Let's say it's a story about a journey where the protagonist fails to reach their destination in the original. In your alternate ending, you could have them find a shortcut or get some unexpected help. Also, don't be afraid to completely change the mood. If the original was dark and gloomy, make your alternate ending bright and hopeful. Just keep in mind the rules of good storytelling, like having a clear resolution and keeping the characters' actions consistent with their personalities.

One way to do it is to look for loose ends or unanswered questions in the original story. From there, build a conclusion that ties them up differently. Another approach is to introduce a new element or character late in the story to steer it in a new direction. Just make sure it makes sense within the story's world.

Well, start by thinking about the characters' motivations and arcs. Maybe introduce a new plot twist or have a character make a different decision than they did in the original ending.

The original ending has Cinderella marrying the prince. However, an alternate ending could be that when Cinderella is at the ball, she realizes that the life of a princess may not be for her. She leaves the ball early and returns home. There, she discovers that she has an inheritance from her mother that she can use to travel the world. She becomes an adventurer, seeing different lands and cultures, and is much happier than she could have been as a princess in a castle.

Rather than the prince marrying another woman, in this alternate ending, he realizes that he has feelings for the Little Mermaid all along. He goes to the ocean and calls out to her. The Little Mermaid surfaces, and they confess their love for each other. With the help of a friendly sea wizard, the Little Mermaid is given legs permanently, and she and the prince live happily ever after in a castle by the sea, with the mermaids often visiting them.

Gatsby doesn't die. Instead, he decides to leave the East Coast and all its false glamour behind. He moves to the West, starts a new life as a rancher, and finds true peace away from the chaos of the parties and the unrequited love for Daisy.

In the alternate ending, Elizabeth rejects Darcy's second proposal. She decides to focus on her own independence and travels the world. Years later, she returns to her hometown as a successful writer, still single but content with her life choices.

First, choose a historical event to change. For example, if you change the outcome of the Battle of Hastings. Then, think about the immediate and long - term consequences. Maybe the Norman Conquest didn't happen, so Anglo - Saxon culture continues to dominate in England. Build characters who are affected by this new world. A Saxon peasant who now has different opportunities. Keep the story focused and relatively short, say around 10 - 20 pages.

To create an alternate ending, think about what could have happened differently earlier in the story that would lead to a new conclusion. Consider changing the motives or decisions of the main characters. Also, you could introduce an unexpected event or revelation at the end.

You can end a short story by creating a sense of closure. This might involve showing the main character achieving their goal. If the character was striving to win a competition, the ending could be them standing on the podium, receiving the trophy. Or, you could end it on an emotional note. Maybe the character has lost someone they love during the story, and the ending shows them coming to terms with their grief, perhaps by visiting the person's favorite place and feeling a sense of peace.